• Programming
• Leader of the Arts

Buncie Hay Lanners

July, 2004

A sixth generation Newton County native, Buncie Hay Lanners has been the Executive Director of the Arts Association in Newton County since 2001, after serving as a member of its Board of Directors for five years. Annually, the Arts Association presents a world-class arts series that encompasses a diverse genre of performances including chamber, symphony, piano, choral, ballet, musical theater, visual arts, country, family, big band, and jazz. As Executive Director, Buncie worked to broaden the scope of offerings by scheduling performances by Covington Regional Ballet Company, adding a visual arts initiative and a Youth Strings Orchestra, and incorporating the Newton County Community Band.

Buncie has also made strides to develop outreach programs to benefit young people and the Newton County School System. The Arts Association sponsors five young artists programs, including Covington Regional Ballet Company, Creative Kids Camp, Oxford Singing Children, Oxford Youth Singers, and Youth Strings Orchestra, as well as private violin and voice lessons. The Arts Association provides five annual in-school artist residencies for 7,500 Newton County School Students, bringing them exposure to a wide range of performances.

Buncie makes an exceptional effort to engage the arts and artists as catalysts for community development. She oversaw an event with pianist Awadagin Pratt and African-American community leaders during Black History Month, which in turn spawned the development of a mentoring program sponsored by the Newton County Chamber of Commerce and the Newton County Schools. In 2001, she helped initiate a Mexican program featuring a Gran Folklorica de Mexico concert and a fiesta with planning done by Mexican Citizens, using the arts to bridge cultural differences, expose, and educate.